Lanterns and Lace

Chapter 19

Grant finally closed the door to his office shortly after five. He’d had a steady stream of patients all afternoon, which had kept his mind off the confrontation with Jenny the previous day. That woman could perplex a saint. He simply lost all manner of logic the moment she cast those big brown eyes his way. Maybe he should have shot that deer long ago and established himself at the ripe old age of twelve as a grand hunter. Then maybe he wouldn’t fall slave to those doelike eyes of hers.

Not likely. I was the prey the moment she came to town.

To make matters worse, a sickly child bothered him, a four-year-old little boy who’d weighed barely five pounds at birth. He was now the same size as two-and-a-half-year-old Rebecca. Grant realized he might lose him, and he sensed a helplessness that depressed him. Ofttimes he questioned God’s wisdom when children perished needlessly. Parents grieved and wished their own bodies lay still in the grave instead of a precious new life. Grant prayed that someday medicine would help more children to survive. The thought of living without Rebecca tormented his soul. Praise God, she rarely became ill, and he kept a watchful eye on Jenny’s activities to make sure she didn’t snatch his daughter away. Life held more blessings than he took the time to acknowledge.

He made his way into the kitchen, where he inhaled a tantalizing beef roast. Mimi had the garden bucket in her hand, and Rebecca played with her favorite doll on the floor, chatting away like a magpie.

“Do I have time to see Ben before supper?” he said to Mimi.

She glanced about. “I believe so. I haven’t started the biscuits, shucked the corn, or picked a few peppers and cucumbers. Rebecca and I helped your mother can tomatoes today, and we were late getting home.”

At the sound of her name, his daughter smiled from her position on the floor. “I helped Grandpa in the church.”

“Good. You are my angel.” He picked her up and planted a kiss on her peachy cheek. “Sure smells good in here,” he said and stared hungrily at the stove.

Mimi eyed him curiously. “Did you and the lady quarrel again?” she said.

“A little.”

She shook her head. “I thought so.”

He didn’t ask her why for fear she’d want to know the details and give her opinion about how to resolve the matter. “I might try to see her before coming home.”

“Are you going to see Aunt Jenny?” Rebecca said.

I’ve got to watch more carefully what I say. “I might see her if I get finished with Uncle Ben soon enough.”

“Can I go?”

Those dark eyes were hard to resist. “Not this time, sugar. Miss Jenny will be back to see you soon.”

“She’ll be here early tomorrow morning for a baking lesson,” Mimi said with a laugh. “Although I’d rather hear her play piano. When she touches those keys, sounds like all of heaven stops to listen.”

Rebecca smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Goodie.”

If only making Jenny happy could be this simple. He grabbed his hat and headed to the sheriff’s office.

*****

“What do you think about Martha’s threat to Ellen and Jenny?” Grant said.

Ben stood outside the sheriff’s office and glanced down the street toward the town’s eyesore. The church sat farther down the road than the brothel. “I’d like nothing better than to shut her down, and she knows it. But some of the town’s money is invested there. Every time I try to put her and her girls on a train, I get stabbed in the back with politics.” He blew out an exasperated sigh. “Believe me. She’ll get a good tongue-lashing from me about it. After all, Ellen is my sister-in-law, and I’m proud of her.”

“Do you think Ellen and Jenny are overreacting to the idea that Turner put Martha up to it?”

“Probably not. I keep wondering why he’s hanging around. If he was engaged to Jessica and she left him before she came here, why is he so interested in Kahlerville now?”

“And why did he follow Jenny?”

“I’m not turning up a thing on him. If he’s wanted, he’s using a different name.”

“That’s reassuring.”

“And I can’t do a thing unless he breaks the law.” Ben broke into a fit of coughing.

“When are you going to see me about that cough?”

“It’s nothing. A little summer cold.”

“It’s getting worse.”

Ben frowned. “Look, I’ll talk to Martha. Once Frank hears about this tonight, he’ll be ready to burn down her brothel before anyone gets the chance to burn his lumberyard. Sure would hate to put my own brother in jail.”

Grant peered into Ben’s face. When had he grown so pale? “And I’ll expect you to stop by the house so I can give you some medicine for your cough.”

Ben waved him away. “I’m too busy for such nonsense.”

“How—”

“Please. I’ve got too much on my mind right now with the baby coming and this business with Turner.”

Grant understood. When Ben felt so bad he couldn’t work, then he’d come see the doctor. “Let me know what I can do.”

Ben simply nodded. “I’ll stop by after I talk to Martha.”

No eye contact. No smile. The glazed look in his eyes indicated a fever.

*****

Jenny took a deep breath and knocked on Grant’s front door. She hadn’t seen him since their argument on Monday, and neither had he tried to contact her at the boardinghouse. He must be furious with her, just as she’d been with him. The more she pondered the matter, the more she realized Grant had no reason to trust her. She’d been trouble for him since the day she fell off the train and greeted him with vomit on her dress and a treacherous plan in her heart.

As difficult as it might be, she needed to apologize. If only the proper words would magically come to mind to set her heart at ease. But if she truly had abandoned her desire to take Rebecca, then she should leave Kahlerville soon. A deep yearning surfaced. She never wanted to leave. She wanted to stay in this town forever. How foolish. How very foolish. Not even her teaching position or friends tempted her to return to Cleveland.

The door creaked open, interrupting her musings. Jenny breathed relief when Mimi welcomed her inside.

“I hope I’m not too early,” Jenny said. “It’s not even dawn, but I wanted to take a loaf of our bread to Ellen’s this morning.”

“Nonsense. I’m always up and about at this time. And we do want your bread to rise nicely.”

Jenny peered about.

“He’s in his office. Most likely talking to God. You should do the same.”

Jenny reddened.

“You and Grant must still be in a tiff. Land sakes alive, girl, can’t you two see what the rest of us already know?” Mimi stared into her face with wrinkled wisdom and insight that sent Jenny’s heart into a whirlwind of emotions.

“What are you saying?” Jenny said.

Mimi placed her hands on her ample hips and waddled down the hallway to the kitchen. “Let me tell you a story.”

Obviously, Mimi planned to enlighten her about the whole matter whether she wanted to hear the story or not.

“There’s a man who comes to see Grant real regular. Don’t know why. He’s healthy as a horse. He and my husband, God rest his soul, were best friends. Whenever Jake comes by, he always stops to see me. I always act like I’m too busy and put-out with him interfering in my day. But the truth of the matter is, the moment I know he’s here, I bustle about the kitchen making fresh coffee and tidying up myself.”

“I don’t understand.”

“I pretend he’s the last person I want to see when he’s really the only one I want to see.”

Jenny gasped. “I think you must be wrong. Grant and I—”

“Grant and I what?”

Jenny swung around to see the object of her bewilderment.

“Good morning. You’re here early. I thought I heard my name.”

Jenny would like nothing better than to sink through the floor. What had he heard? Best she ignore his comment. “Mimi and I are baking bread this morning.”

He smiled. Avoiding him might be easier if he had a mole on the end of his nose or smelled bad or his eyes weren’t such an incredible shade of green.

“I’m sure Rebecca will be thrilled to see you.”

But you’re not? “We’ll have a good time. I’m sure of it.” She hesitated. “Do you have a minute to talk privately?”

“Of course. We could step outside.”

She followed him while her heart pounded faster than a hummingbird’s wings. The predawn darkness hid her flushed face, for which she was thankful. A dose of a potion guaranteed to calm her shaking limbs would be most appreciated.

“I want to apologize for my behavior on Monday.” The words gushed out like a boiling pot overflowing the brim. “I understand how you couldn’t possibly trust me.” She sucked in a breath, then added, “When I’ve never given you a reason to think I’m trustworthy.”

The imposing silence shattered what little poise she had remaining.

“I’ve given up on taking Rebecca back to Cleveland. She belongs here with you. I can see that now.” She willed her heart to cease its incessant pounding.

Grant pointed toward the east, where shades of purple, pink, and orange slowly spread across the horizon. “Would you look at that? Absolutely beautiful. I was awake most of the night pacing the floor of my room with too many matters on my mind. I talked, and God listened. Everything looked black. And when I went to my window, there wasn’t even a star in the sky. Here is the beginning of a new day, and it nearly takes my breath away.” He turned toward her and reached for her hand. “Thank you, Jenny. I believe it’s going to be a grand day.”

Confused to the point she might not recognize her own name, Jenny allowed him to take her arm and walk back inside the house. What a strange response to her confession. Of course, she’d been confused since the day she met him.